Method of cutting sheets of glass



Feb. 1, 1966 G. F. RxTTER, JR., ETAL 3,232,504

METHOD OF CUTTING SHEETS OF GLASS 3 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed May 25, 196D Feb- 1, 1956 G. F. R11-TER, JR., ETAL. 32329594 METHOD OF CUTTING SHEETS OF GLASS Original Filed May 25, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. l, 1966 G. F, RITTER, JR., ETAL 3,232,504

METHOD OF CUTTING SHEETS OF GLASS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed May 25. 1960 United States Patent 3,232,594 METHOD 0F CUTTENG SHEETS QF GLASS George F. Ritter, r., Toledo, and Robert H. Welker, Perrysburg, (ho, assignors to Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass Company, Toiedo, Ghia, a cerporaton of Ghia @riginal application hlay 25, 196i), Ser. No. 31,533. Divided and this application May 6, 1964, Ser. No. 374,219

4 Claims. (Cl. 22S-2) This application is a division of application Serial No. 31,593, filed May 25, i960.

The present invention relates broadly to the cutting of sheets of glass and more particularly to a method for cutting rectilinear sheets of glass at an oblique angle.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide an improved method for splitting a rectilinear sheet of glass into two substantially identical trapezoidal portions.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method for cutting rectilinear sheets of glass in which the scoring tool is normal to the leading edge of the sheet at the time of initial contact therewith and is then swung horizontally about a vertical axis to complete the cutting of the sheet at an oblique angle.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent during the course of the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIG. l is a plan view of apparatus for cutting sheets of glass constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section of that portion of the apparatus upon which the glass sheets to be cut are loaded, taken on line 2 2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the cutter head as viewed along line 3 3 of FiG. l;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the cutter head shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the mounting means for the cutter head taken on line 5 5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6 6 of FIG, 5;

FlG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 7 7 of FIG. l showing the apparatus for breaking the sheet along the scored line; and

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view progressively illustrating the steps in the cutting procedure.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. l, the cutting apparatus is indicated generally by the numeral 29 and which, according to functions, is divided into a loading section A, a cutting or scoring section B, a breaking section C and an unloading section D. All ve sections are traversed by a multiple belt type con veyor 21 moving in a rectilinear path.

The conveyor 21 comprises a supporting framework 22 which includes longitudinal side rails 23 and 24 supported above the floor level by uprights (FIGS. 2 and 7) and connected together in spaced parallel relation by cross members 26.

Iournaled for rotation in the side rails 23 and 24 at the loading end of the conveyor 21 is a roll 27 and a second roll 2S is journaled in said side rails at the unloading end of the conveyor. The roll 28 extends through the side rail 24 and is provided with a chain drive 29 which is driven from a suitable motor or line shaft.

The conveyor 21 is made up of a plurality and, as herein shown, live narrow, endless belts which are passed over the rolls 27 and 2S and supported on the upper tlight by a plurality of slats. The belt on the longitudinal center line of the conveyor is designated by the numeral 30, the belt on either side of the center belt 30 by the numeral 31, and the belt adjacent each of the side rails ICC 23 and 24 by the numeral 32. In a similar manner, the' center slat is designated by the numeral 33, the slats adjacent the center slat by the numeral 34 and the slats adjacent the side rails 23 and 24 by the numeral 35.

The loading section A of the conveyor 21 is provided with a plurality of elongated air chambers 36, individually positioned side-by-side between adjacent belts 30, 31 and 32 and each chamber being covered with an air permeable and resilient top 37 made of felt or other material having suitable characteristics.

As an alternate construction, a single air chamber, with recesses in the top surface to provide clearance for the upper iiights of the belts 30, 31 and 32, may be substituted for the plurality of chambers.

Projecting downwardly from the bottom wall 38 of each chamber 36 at opposite ends thereof are lugs 39 and 4i). Each lug 39 is pivotally connected by a pin 41 to one end of a bell crank lever 42 and each bell crank lever 42 is pivotally mounted on a transverse rod 43 supported by the framework 22 of the conveyor 21. Each j of the lugs 40 is similarly connected by a pin 44 to one end of a bell crank lever 45 and each bell crank lever 45 'j is pivotally mounted on a transverse rod 46 supported by a pair of transversely opposed uprights 2S forming part form a table top above the upper llight of the conveyor belts 30, 31 and 32, to the broken line position where the, upper surfaces 52 of the chambers 36 are lowered to a position where they are below the upper flight of' the belts. Three or more sheet locator discs 53, which `are preferably of a resilient material, project above the upper surfaces 52 of the chambers 36 and are so positioned'that when two edges of a sheet of glass 54 are in engagementv with the discs, the glass sheet to be cut is resting on the surfaces 52, with the angle included between the lead" edge of the sheet and the direction in which the belts 30, 31 and 32 are moving, as indicated by the arrow S5 (FIG.

l), is substantially 45.

As shown in FIG. 2, each chamber 36 is connected by a hose S6 to a manifold 57 which is continuously supplied with air under low pressure from a suitable source. The air escapes from the chambers 36 through the felt tops 3'7 to lessen the impact when a glass sheet 54 is placed upon the upper surfaces 52 forming the aforementioned table top, In addition, the air otation buoys the sheet suiciently so that an operator experiences little dificulty in accurately positioning the sheet with respect to the discs 53.

That portion of the cutting apparatus 20 forming the cutting or scoring section B and the breaking section C occupies the central portion of the conveyor 21 and includes a glass breaking apparatus which is supported on a bridge 58 spanning the conveyor substantially intermediate its ends (FiGS. 1 and 7). The bridge 58 includes four uprights 59 rising from the side rails 23 and 24 in transversely aligned pairs and with each pair of uprights supporting a cross channel 6i).

A pressure bar assembly 61 is attached to the underside of the cross channels 60 directly over each of the conveyor belts 31 and slats 34. Each pressure bar assembly is comprised of a longitudinal channel 62 having a plate 63 welded or otherwise fixed to the underside As shown in FIG. 2, extension of the piston rod48 moves the bell crank levers 42 and 45 from the solid lineposition, where the upper surfaces 52 of the chambers 36* thereof at opposite ends and projecting beyond the sides of the channel 62. Each plate 63 is provided with a hole at either side of the channel 62 and the body portion of a headed bolt 64 is passed through each hole, through a helically -coiled spring 65, and through a hole in a second plate 66, which is identical to and parallel with the plate 63. A nut 67 engages threads on the lower end of each bolt 64 to limit the downward or pressure applying movement of the lower plate 66. The lower plates 66, at opposite ends of each pressure bar assembly 61, are joined by an angle iron 68, welded or otherwise fixed to the undersideof said plates and which carries a plurality of rollers 69 for exerting a downwardly directed pressure upon the upper surface of a glass sheet as it moves thereunder on the conveyor 21.

As' shown in FIG. 1, the adjacent ends of the pressure bar assemblies 61 are aligned at the 45 angle corresponding to the positioning of each sheet 54 at the loading section-A and it will also be noted that the pressure bar assemblies engage the upper surface of each sheet as it traverses both the cutting section-B and the breaking section C.

The apparatus comprising the cutting or scoring secj tion B is shown in ldetail in FIGS. 1 and 3 through 6, and

the manner in which it functions is diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of vertical posts 70, preferably made of channel iron, rise from the side rails 23 and 24 and rotatably support the opposite ends of a tube or rod 71 extending transversely above the conveyor 21. One end of the tube 71 projects beyond the framework 22 of the conveyor 21 and has attached thereto a hand crank 72 (FIGS. 1 and 6). As shown inV detail in FIG. 6, the crank 72 is provided with an opening 73 throughk which is inserted a detent 74 comprised of a headed pin 7S and a spring 76 retained on the pin by a collar 77. A plate 78 is xed to the adjacent post' 70 and is provided with a pair of holes 79 radially aligned with the detent 74 and approximately 90 apart (FIG.

Carried by the tube 71 on the longitudinal center line of the conveyor 21, which is directly above the center belt 30 and the center slat 33, is a cutter or scoring head 80 which is shown in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4. The cutter head is secured to the tube 71 by a clamping device 81 which is comprised of two parts 82 and 33 which, when tted together around the tube 71, remain slightly spaced apart, but which dene a surface 84 for gripping the' exterior of the tube 71 when the boltl and nut combinations 85 are tightened.

Carried` by the clamp 81 is a yoke 86 fastened thereto by screws 87 and provided with aligned upper and lower lugs 88 and 89 projecting away from the tube 71. A pair of holes 90 extend in vertical alignment through both lugs and each is provided with a bearing 91. A third lug 92 projects from one side of the yoke 86 at a point approximately midway between the lugs 88 and 39 and with the faces thereof at an angle of 45 with respect to the axis of the tube 71 (FIG. 4). An internally threaded openingV 93 extends through the lug 92 and receives a screw 94 which is provided with a jam nut 95 for locking the screw ina preselected position.

Positioned in the space 96 (FIG. 3) between the lugs 88 and 89 of yoke 86 is a block 97 provided with a hole 98 aligned with the bores of the bearings 91 carried by said lugs. A headed pin 99, passing through the bearings 91 and block 97 and provided at its lower end with a Washer 100 and a Cotter key 101, retains the block 97 in pivoted relation with the yoke S6 within the limits permitted by the screw 94. An L-shaped bracket member 102 is secured to the outer vertical face of the block 97 by screws 103 passing through the vertical leg 104 of the braket 102 while the horizontal leg 105 of the bracket 102 extends rearwardly in the direction of the tube 71 beneath;y the yoke'86';

Depending from the' undersurface of theA horizontal leg 105 of the bracket 102 is a lug 106 provided with an opening 107. A right-angled bracket 108 is fastened to the upper end of the vertical leg 104 of the bracket 102 by screws 109 and extends in a horizontal direction away from the tube 71 to provide a horizontal leg 110. As shown in FIG. 4, a threaded opening 111 extends through the horizontal leg 110 of bracket 108 and communicates with the interior of a sylphon bellows 112 carried by and depending from the underside of the horizontal leg 110 of bracket 108. A nipple 113 is screwed into the opening 111 in bracket 108 and an air hose 114 is clamped to the nipple for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The bellows 112 is closed at the bottom end thereof by a plate or plug 115 which is reduced in diameter at its lowermost end, as indicated by the numeral 116 in FIG. 3.

A carrier 117 for the cutting or scoring tool 118, which includes the usual wheel 119 and holder 120, is provided with a solid body portion 121 in which the scoring tool 118 is inserted from the bottom, and a horizontally extending bifurcated portion 122 which is pivoted on a pin 123 extending through the hole 107 of the lug 106. As air pressure is applied through the hose 114 and the nipple 113 into the interior of the bellows 112, the bellows extend in length and pivot the carrier 117 in a counter-clockwise direction (FIG. 3) to press the scoring wheel 119 against the upper surface of a sheet of glass 54 moved thereunder by the conveyor 21. However, in order to raise the scoring wheel in advance of its contact with the sheet and also limit the depth of cut to approximately 144, a pair of rollers 124 are mounted by shoulder screws 125 on either side of the body portion 121 of the carrier 117 to contact the lead edge 126 of a sheet 54 in advance of the Scoring wheel 119 and serve to raise the scoring wheel a predetermined amount. By regulating the air pressure to the interior of the bellows 112, the scoring wheel 119 and the rollers 124 which control the depth of the score line 127 are held out of contact with the conveyor belt 30 when not engaging a sheet.

As shown in FIG. 4, the horizontal leg 110 of the bracket 108 has a projection 128 onl theV same side as the lug 92 of the yoke 86. A hole 129 is provided in the projection 128 to receive one end of a tension spring 130 which is anchored to the tube 71 by a clamp 131. The spring 130 exerts only sufficient tension to pivot the cutter head 80 about the pin 99 to the broken line position of FIG. 4, which is accurately determined by the screw 94.

A lubricant storage and feed container 132 is mounted on the end of the horizontal leg 110 of the bracket 108 and leading therefrom is a tube 133 which directs the lubricant onto the upper surface of the glass sheet 54 at the point of contact with the scoring wheel 119.

Referring now to FIGS. 1V and 7, a wedge 134 is inserted between the cross member 26 and the center slat 33 at the breaking section C to raise the center slat 33 and the belt 30. In the same area is a switch 135 having a roller 136 for contacting the upper surface of each sheet 54 and a lever 137 mounting the roller. The switch 135 is electrically connected to operate a solenoid valve which controls the air ow into the double acting cylinder `49 to raise and lower the air chambers 36.

With the conveyor 21 operating, the circuit to the switch 135 is energized, and air pressure is applied to the chambers 36, the cutter head 80 and the rear end of the -cylinder 49. At this time the air chambers 36 are in the lowered or broken line position of FIG. 2 and the cutter head 80 is biased by the spring 130 against the screw 94 in the broken line position shown in FIG. 4.

An operator at the unloading section D of the apparatus 20 then manually trips and holds the switch 135 to admit air into the front end of the cylinder 49 thereby raising the air chambers 36 from the broken line position to the full line position shown in FIG. 2. A glass. sheet 54 to be cut is then placed upon the upper surfaces4 of chambers 36in a diagonal position, as shownI in FIG,

1, with the leading corner of the sheet being positioned between and engaging the spaced locators 5'3 on the two chambers 36 positioned at either side of the conveyor belt 31 so that one locator engages the forward longitudinal edge of the sheet and the other locator the adjacent end edge thereof. At the sarne time, the forward longitudinal edge of the sheet at the opposite end thereof is moved into contact with the locator 53 carried by chamber 36 at the opposite side of the conveyor.

After placement of the glass sheet upon the top surfaces 52 of the air chambers 36 by a second operator, the operator at the unloading section D then releases the switch 135 whereupon the chambers 36 will move downwardly by their own weight to transfer the sheet 54 onto the belts 3G, 31 and 32 in the desired angular position. Thus, the locators 53 serve to accurately position each sheet on the air chambers 36. In addition, the felts 37 pad the surface 52 and permit passage of air to buoy the sheets for ease in positioning. The air flotation also retards the fall of the trailing edge of the sheet, when released by an operator.

The sheet 54 is then advanced from the loading section A in the direction of the arrow 55 and is engaged on its upper surface by the rollers 69 of the pressure bar assemblies 61. Prior to arrival of the sheet at the scoring section B, the scoring head 80 is held in the broken line position of FIG. 4 by the tension spring 130. In this position, the scoring wheel 119 is normal to the approaching or lead edge 126 of the sheet 54, as shown diagrammatically in the View at the left of FIG. 8. The scoring wheel 119 is retained in this position at the time of contact with the lead edge 126 of the sheet S4 and for a short distance over the surface of the sheet. In other words, the initial part of the score line is normal to the lead edge 126 of the sheet as indicated by the numeral 138 in the central view of FIG. 8. However, at this time the combined friction of the scoring wheel 119 and the rollers 124, engaging the surface of the sheet S4, is suicient to overcome the tension of spring 130 and the cutting head S0 is pivoted to the solid line position shown in FIG. 4, which coincides with the line of travel of the sheet 54, as indicated by the arrow 55 and as indicated in FIG. 8. It has been found that by making the initial score normal to the lead edge of the sheet, the resulting break is sharp, whereas without this feature the break is ragged and may not properly follow the score line.

As each sheet 54 is advanced by the conveyor 21, the cutter head S0, upon completion of a score line 127, is returned to the broken line position of FIG. 4 by the spring 130. The pressure bar assemblies 61 press each sheet 54 firmly against the belts 3G, 31 and 32 during the scoring operation and prevent the sheet 54 from shifting.

The pressure on each sheet 54 is retained as the sheet is advanced by the conveyor 21 into the breaking section C. As previously disclosed, the wedge 134 inserted between the cross member 26 and the center slat 33 raises the center belt 30, which underlies the score line 127, to bend the sheet 54 suticiently to break it along the score line into two substantially identical trapezoidal shaped portions or sheets of glass 139 (FIGS. 1 and 8).

Simultaneously with the breaking of the sheet 54, the sheet engages the switch 135 and energizes an electrical circuit which admits air into the vfront or left-hand end Cil of the cylinder 49, as viewed in FIG. 2, thereby retracting the piston rod 48 and raising the chambers 36 to the full line position of FIG. 2 where the surfaces 52 of the chambers are above the level of the upper iiights of the belts 30, 31 and 32. During the time the switch 135 is held energized, the air chambers are maintained in the raised, full line position of FIG. 2 for a period of time suicient for an operator to load another sheet 54. The elapsed time a sheet 54 is in engagement with the roller 136 of the switch 135 is sucient for an operator to load another sheet on the surfaces 52 of the chambers 36.

After emergence of a sheet 54 from the breaking section C and release of the two trapezoidal sheets 139 from the pressure bar assemblies 61, the sheets 139 are advanced to the unloading section D of the conveyor 12 where they are removed by an operator.

The crank 72 and detent 74, previously disclosed, are provided for changing the scoring tool 118. When the crank and the detent are in the position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the cutting head is in the operative position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. When the scoring Wheel 119 becomes dulled, an operator withdraws the detent 74 from the lower hole 79, rotates the crank 72 one quarter turn in a counter-clockwise direction and releases the detent into the higher hole 79. After changing the scoring tool 118, this operation is reversed to restore the head 86 to scoring position.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention .herewith described is to be taken as an illustrative ernbodiment only of the same, and that various procedural changes may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. A method of cutting a rectilinear sheet of glass into two trapezoidal portions, comprising initially scoring a marginal edge portion of said sheet in a direction normal to said edge, completing the scoring of said sheet along a line disposed at an oblique angle to the initial score, and thereafter applying a breaking pressure to said sheet to break said sheet along said initial score and score line.

2. A 4method as deined in claim 1, wherein the oblique angle .of said score .line is substantially 45 to said sheet edge.

3. A method of cutting a rectilinear sheet of glass into two trapezoidal portions, comprising passing the sheet along a denite horizontal path, with the leading edge of said sheet disposed at an angle other than a right angle with respect to said path of travel, initially scoring a marginal edge portion of said sheet as said sheet moves forwardly in a direction normal to the leading edge of the sheet, completing the scoring of said sheet also as said sheet moves .forwardly along a line disposed at an oblique angle to the initial score, and thereafter, during forward movement of the sheet, applying a breaking pressure to said sheet to .break the sheet along said initial score and score line.

4. A method as dened in claim 3, wherein the oblique angle of said score line -is substantially 45 to the leading edge of said sheet.

No references cited.

WILLIAM W. DYER, JR., Primary Examiner. 

1. A METHOD OF CUTTING A RECTILINEAR SHEET, OF GLASS INTO TWO-TRAPEZOIDAL PORTIONS, COMPRISING INITIALLY SCORING A MARGINAL EDGE PORTION OF SAID SHEET IN A DIRECTION NORMAL TO SAID EDGE, COMPLETING THE SCORING OF SAID SHEET ALONG A LINE DISPOSED AT AN OBLIQUE ANGLE TO THE INITIAL SCORE, AND THEREAFTER APPLYING A BREAKING PRESSURE TO SAID SHEET TO BREAK SAID SHEET ALONG SAID INITIAL SCORE AND SCORE LINE. 